Piranesi. The Complete Etchings -

This is Piranesi at his most radical. These 16 plates depict labyrinthine subterranean dungeons filled with staircases that lead nowhere, immense chains, and ambiguous torture engines. The Carceri are masterpieces of spatial confusion and have influenced everything from Romantic literature to modern film noir and the works of M.C. Escher. Technical Mastery: The "Biting" Line

Available in multiple editions (Taschen, Dover, and Electa), the "Complete Etchings" is best sought in its large-format, high-contrast printings. Check used bookstores or direct from the publisher for the definitive XXL edition. Let the prisons hold you. piranesi. the complete etchings